Varsamedi land scam: Charge sheet against Pradeep Sharma

The State CID (crime) on Thursday submitted a charge sheet against suspended former Kutch collector Pradeep Sharma and two others in what is known as Varsamedi land scam case. The case is about Welspun being given land for their project at lower rates than the government rates.

The two others charge-sheeted are AF Suvera, the then resident deputy collector and Natu Desai, town planner. The charge sheet was submitted exactly 88 days after the FIRs were filed against the accused.

"Three main accused were formally charge-sheeted today. There was however no charge sheet against any other revenue official," said Yogesh Bhandarkar, govt counsel who submitted the charge sheet on behalf of CID crime.

Bhandkarar denied filing of any charge sheet against former Kutch district development officer Hareet Shukla who was one of the members of the land price deciding town planning committee. However, sources said that second column of the charge sheet indicated that inquiry was pending against Shukla.

The land was granted to Welspun company between May-December 2004 at lower rates causing revenue loss to the exchequer, the sources added.